fbhjr

A friend from Tennessee shared this video made by a nearby police station, a parody of "Let It Snow." Bear in mind that they're expecting a lot of snow, in an area that rarely gets any, so folks have neither the experience nor the equipment to deal with heavy snow safely.

Current Mood: amused

ysabetwordsmith

Here are the content notes for "The Bones of Chihuly."

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ysabetwordsmith

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

Under our government are there any rights that you have but shouldn’t? How about rights you don’t have but should?

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ysabetwordsmith

Today I made apple topping. A slight tactical error: all we have to pour it over is vanilla ice cream, and the weather is currently subzero. 0_o Perhaps tomorrow I'll make something else to go with it.

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Current Mood: accomplished

fauxklore

I’ve had a fairly busy couple of weeks since I got home from the New England trip.

Convergence: I am taking a three session class via New Lehrhaus called Convergence in Conversation: Music, Narratives, and History. This is a series of conversations led by Anthony Mordecai Tavi Russell focused on his 2018 recording which blends African-American and Ashkenazi Jewish music. I first learned of him when he appeared in a Pro Musica Hebraica program with Mark Glanville a while back and I was completely blown away by his bass voice. Anyway, Convergence is a remarkable musical accomplishment and each session focuses on some of the tracks and questions about them. For example, the second class talked about poverty and imprisonment and included a Yiddish song about a suffering Yeshiva student questioning why his life is so depressing along with the song “I am a poor wayfaring stranger.” The final class is this coming Tuesday and he sent out questions about lullabies and anthems. It’s interesting to hear his perspective on why he combined particular pieces. And I do highly recommend the album to anybody with an interest in either Yiddish music or American spirituals (or, of course, both).

Needle Felted Penguin: A week ago Thursday I took a two-hour class at a nearby brewpub on Making a Needle Felted Penguin. My friend, Tom, who I know from a knitting group and who loves penguins was also there. I think there were about 20 people total. Anyway, I’ve done wet felting over the years (including making felted slippers) but hadn’t done needle felting before. The class was fun and I came away with this cute little guy.

By the way, I have supplies for at least one more penguin.

Two TCC Activities: Last Saturday was busy with a couple of Travelers’ Century Club things. I’m now co-coordinator of the TCC Book Club and, since Ed was on a plane, I got to run the meeting. We discussed Married to Bhutan by Linda Leaming and I thought things went well. In the evening, I went to a local chapter dinner meeting at a Turkish restaurant in D.C. It was well attended and there was plenty of interesting discussion, focused on money saving travel tips. Alas, the metro was kind of screwed up on my way home, due to a disabled train at Virginia Square, so I got home later than I’d have preferred to.

JGSGW Meeting: Sunday was a Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington meeting. The speaker talked about how she traced one of her ancestors without knowing her name. The talk was okay, but I didn’t feel like I learned anything new.

Run-up to the Women’s Storytelling Festival: The Women’s Storytelling Festival is just about two months away. I have plenty of things to do, starting with editing my notes from our planning meeting on Wednesday night.

The Choral: I went to see the movie, The Choral, on Wednesday, which is old people’s discount day at Cinema Arts Theatre in Fairfax. I thought it was exquisite. The story is set in 1916 and involves the choral society in a small community in Yorkshire that is putting on a production of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius. Because of World War I, there are not enough men available and they end up making some changes to the story to suit the circumstances. Ralph Fiennes plays the chorus master, who is disliked for having spent several years in Germany. (And the reason they are doing an Elgar oratorio is to avoid German composers.) The various stories involve the members of the choral society and their relationships, so there is rather a lot going on. The music is spectacular. Two things that struck me were: 1) a quote from Goethe that says a person should hear music, read a poem, and look at a beautiful picture every day and 2) a speech about purgatory given by one of the performers, a soldier who lost an arm in the war. That speech was definitely a two-hanky one. Also, my current ear worm is “A Man Who Would Woo a Fair Maid” (from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard) because they used it in the closing credits.

Stafford Challenge - Week 1: I’ve made it through the first week of writing a poem a day. My major focus is related to the story of the wreck of the Congressional Limited in 1943, which was one of the deadliest train wrecks in U.S. history. I’m interested in it because one of 79 people who died in it was my grandfather’s sister, Mary Lehrman (nee Mariasha Chlebiotskaya). So some of what I wrote this week has to do with introducing some of the characters. Though I did have two unrelated poems - one haiku re: the metro woes of Saturday night and a topical haiku. I won’t include the poems here, but I will list the titles of them.

17 January 2026 - The Train, 1 - Mary wonders about the English language
18 January 2026 - The Train, 2 - Mary shares her daughter’s advice
19 January 2026 - A diversion into Haiku
20 January 2026 - A Haiku For Our Times
21 January 2026 - The boy notices the mysterious soldier
22 January 2026 - A Marine answers the boy
23 January 2026 - Mary sees Lin Yutang

I’m not sure how these fragments will fit together. But, for now, it doesn’t matter.

days_unfolding

Crud. I overslept until 7 AM. The crazy cold temperatures have started. And it’s supposed to snow this weekend. I’m screwed. Actually, I can run out tomorrow morning before the snow starts.

Managed to get the dogs in early. Gracie was stalling but finally decided to come in. It’s 2F/-17C with a wind chill of -18F/-28C. The snow is predicted to start Saturday afternoon.

I've been talking cats with my colleagues via IM. I'm lucky that most of them are "pet people".

Got a bunch of stuff done at work.

I told Gracie that she has a puppy ADHD brain. She came over for some pets, and then promptly ran over to the window to look out.

I think that maybe I'll work on the kitchen table tonight. I have a singing lesson, but I'll probably have some time for cleaning. Actually, I should open some packages.

It just occurred to me that Gracie might have never lived in a house before I got her. That would explain a lot.

Fed the critters. I’ll eat after my singing lesson.

Hmm. I’m wondering if I could design and upgrade my closet (in the library) myself or with a handyman. I kind of know what I want: two rods on top of each other for shirts and pants, but I also want a smaller space that has only one rod for dresses. The shelf up top can stay there if it still fits. I keep my shoes in the bedroom closet, which really needs help but is an awkward size. Well, none of it is happening right now.Actually, I found something at Home Depot that might work (I need to measure) and it costs only $138.

Had my singing lesson. I didn’t have a song to practice, so we worked on intervals. That was a mental workout as well as a vocal workout.

Pulled out clean clothes for tomorrow morning. I need to clean the washer drain sometime this weekend, but that will require moving stuff.

Had dinner. It's gotten late (9 PM), and I want to get up early to let my hair dry before contacting AAA. Maybe I could use a blow dryer. Anyway, time for bed.

ysabetwordsmith

We've passed the third week of January. This includes more of the dropoff days: January 17, January 19, and the third Friday.

It's good for people to make their own plans, with help if wanted or needed. Variations of "How is that working for you?" are used to gauge progress. Here's an example from Brief Action Planning with a flow chart. This concept applies to most problem-solving situations, and it's something that anyone can learn to use.

The above approach is a shorthand version of the engineer problem-solving method. It requires following several steps such as defining a problem, brainstorming solutions, testing a solution, evaluating results, and making changes if necessary.

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Current Mood: accomplished

ravena_kade

Today a coworker emailed the boss early to see how we would be handling the storm. The coworker lives in Rhode Island and has only has lived up North for 2.5 years and has never experienced the type of snow they are predicting. Her kid's schools have already closed. She does not want to come in Monday so she sent the email as soon as she came in.

The boss emails me saying that she spoke to the coworker and we may either close the credit union Monday or have a delayed opening. She asked what I wanted to do; work remote or take vacation time. She also asked what I was working on today. I told her that I finished the CPA audit evidence gathering this morning...a full week ahead of schedule, working on the monthly audit committee, and finish updating the system with the new budget figures for all the general ledger accounts. I also wanted to work remote Monday... as long as I have power. She comes back and says that she will make a work plan for me so I am absolutely productive all day. Ummm...WTF. Who says that? The last week of the month I prep the all the reports for the first week of the month. This month I need to update everything for 2026. I know my job. I wanted to tell her to stuff the spurs up her ass. My coworkers tell me that the last 2 guys that had my job slept at their desks most of the day. I let it go because I know she likes the last word... the problem is that I also like the last word ;-)

Later I asked her if her area in Maine will be hit with the storm. She said yes. She was happy that she planned on not coming in the office until Tuesday. Then just before I left for the day she texts me saying that she will contact me Sunday night about the weather. Umm...why? There is a Nor Easter hitting a great swath of the country. They are predicting 18 to 24 inches of snow. There is going to be weather. I can work remote...just like she is going to do. Next time I'll take the PTO time.

susandennis

He finally got out of here at 2:15. He did do a good job of cleaning up but the work itself is pretty shoddy. Gaps here, bad fits there. I'm not unhappy. But, for instance, if Christian had paid $4k for this for a client, Closets By Design would be in serious trouble.

I need to weed out some clothes. There's a 20 inch section down on the bottom right that now houses empty hangers and my dirty clothes hamper. I could take those out and have more room for clothes but I think I want fewer clothes. The shoe situation is perfection.

I'm going to get hard clear plastic boxes for the shelves. (That dark one up there has nothing in it now but I do not want shit hidden. The ironing board rolls in and out beautifully. There is room to dance in there. So very cool.

And on a completely different topic, Fairlfe protein shakes are pretty darned good. I feel like I have mentioned this but I can't believe that I think a protein drink is delicious.

susandennis

Well, Zach has a few glitches. But he's getting the job done. The sales woman told me 90 minutes but clearly she was smoking something hallucinogenic. One of the many email reminders I got said to 'plan for the whole day'. That is apparently Zach's schedule. He's not the most efficient worker on the planet plus he spent an hour on the phone "whey your Mom calls, you have to answer, right?" er no. And he didn't bring a dolly of any kind so is having to make a million trips to his truck. I offered up a dolly, cart or rolling trolley and he said no thank you. Whatfuckingever.

The killer is... I had specifically asked the sales woman if she or any of the installation team had problems with cats "oh no!" And, yet, Zach is apparently allergic. So when he's not on the phone with his Mom, he's sneezing and blowing his nose. Holy fuck. And he likes to chit chat about his wife's knitting and his kid's putting glue on the carpet. Stuff that most people would be fine with. I'm just not most people.

On the up side, he did not blink an eye when I asked him to snake an extension cord under the built ins so that I could have an outlet on the other side of the closet. And he is asking me questions - how does this look? are you happy with that?

And on a good day with perfect people, I have so little patience with people working in my apartment for any length of time. Get it done, get your shit and get out of here.

I did get the stupid coffee pot descaled. I spent about 45 minutes digging through the internet looking for a hack to turn the damn descale light off. Finally I just did the job. Which only took another 15 mins. Whatever.

I think when it is all said and done, I will be happy with the job. BUT even then, I think it's a $2,000 job, not $4,000. Again. Whatever. I hope no one asks me for a review. If they do, I will do them the great kindness of refusing.

ysabetwordsmith

Cities Must Fix Inspections

Think permitting and inspections reform don't matter? Listen to this hellish account.

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ysabetwordsmith

Today is partly sunny and cold. Heavy snow and deep cold are predicted for the weekend. :/

I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows and a male cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 1/23/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen a large flock of sparrows and a female downy woodpecker.

EDIT 1/23/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 1/23/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

susandennis

Here's what my closet looks like now:

And then there is a little cove off to the side:

And here's where the current contents are housed:

It's all done and ready. I had about 5 robe hooks scattered around the closet, installed three years ago with Command strips. They were always in constant use. Every single one of them came right off with no sign they were ever there. I love Command strips.

The closet guy is supposed to get here between 9 and 11. Supposedly I can call to see where I am in the queue after 9. This company has sent me 4 emails and called leaving voice mail 4 times to remind me. I am over their aggression. I just hope the installers isn't an asshole.

I think while he is here, I'll descale the Keurig. It has been bitching about it for 6 months now. The old Keurigs had an over ride process but this one you have to physically pour the stupid water in a million times and wait for it to go though cup by cup - it's a bitch which is why I just let the flasher flash the message for 6 months. We have fine water and I don't care. But, it might be a productive way to spend time while he's working.

AND I just heard from him. Zach. Who says he'll be here by 8:45!

Woot. They say it should take about 90 minutes so I should have my new closet operational by lunchtime.

Ok. Guess I'll get ready to go out to meet him at the secret parking spot near the elevator. It is very cold out. Wonder if I have gloves?

ysabetwordsmith

Snowflake Challenge 12: Appreciation

Today's challenge is all about delivering appreciation where it's due. Who makes your fandom life better?

Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life. Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!

An old-fashioned ornament of two young girls bundled up in coats and walking side by side is nestled amidst pine boughs.

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ysabetwordsmith

bookclub_dw is running a poll about what to read in February.

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ysabetwordsmith

Today's theme is Libraries and Librarians.

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ysabetwordsmith

Here are the location notes for "The Bones of Chihuly."

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taz_39

**Disclaimer** The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own, and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer. DO NOT RESHARE ANY PART OF THIS POST WITHOUT PERMISSION. Thank you.

This post covers Wednesday and Thursday.

--- --- --- --- --- ---

WEDNESDAY

Up early, breakfast and working on Foodie Finds, then off to Teszeract Salon for a haircut! I have been here once before with Tootsie in 2022 and they did an excellent job on my hair.

Today was no different :) Picture in the salon right after she finished, and in the car with nicer lighting.

Can't they move their business to Florida so I can look this good year-round?? Lol.

The big talk at the salon (and everywhere in OKC right now) is a huge winter storm moving in and predicted to hit between Friday and Saturday. Current snowfall predictions are around 8-12" (20-30 cm) and temps are supposed to drop to 10°F or less (-12°C) plus windchill. Being from Pennsylvania, I have been through weather like this before, but that was a very long time ago. Still, I am trying to think ahead about all that I might need to have ready in the hotel room in case we get snowed in. This level of snowfall is unusual in Oklahoma and a lot of businesses may shut down.

Anyway, today was the last nice day before the storm hits. Tomorrow will be cloudy and colder, and Friday will start to look miserable. I wonder if any of our shows will be cancelled?

Back at the hotel my new carbon fiber Butler mutes had come in.

Each one is a cup mute, but the cup can be removed to make each one a straight mute. I need that "convertible" function while on tour both to save space and make transitions between numbers easier. Just as I had unpacked them, Ryu and Sarah texted to say they needed the rental car. I gave them the key, then decided that since I won't have the car I'll pack a dinner and walk to the theater early to try out the new mutes. If I'm comfortable with them I'll use them in the show tonight.

Meanwhile I worked on finishing my masterclass PowerPoint, and even tried timing some of the sections. Glad I did, because it made me aware of how I tend to go into sub-stories instead of sticking to the bullet points on each slide. Meanwhile Jameson had been doing some auditions for Disney and messaged to tell me about them. It sounded like fun (for him...probably nerve wracking for the auditionees!)

An hour or two before the show I got bundled up and walked to the theater to try my new mutes. They were good-in-practice so I did decide to use them in the show...and that turned out to be a mistake. The tenor trombone mute literally cracked in half when I put it in the first time, I had to grab some tape and put it back together. For what I paid for these mutes that is inexcusable. And the bass mute was mostly-fine, but for whatever reason I could not get low D to come out at all during the show while it was in :( I think in the practice session I hadn't played it as quietly as I do for the show, and at low volume it seems it doesn't want to come out. Welp. Hopefully they'll let me return them because these are definitely not worth what I paid.

Other than that the show went just fine, and it was National Swing Day so we had a special little speech after the bows, and Michael (our Key 3 and therefore our "swing" keyboardist) got to go up on stage and take a bow! That was awesome :D

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THURSDAY

Woke up early, had breakfast, and finished Fayetteville Foodie Finds. Got a notification to renew my PreCheck so did that ($70.) Received a bunch of tax forms from a student loan, a 1099 employer, and my Epic Universe employer, and downloaded those. Filled out a Return Request form for the mutes and received apologies and a promise of a shipping label.

While the tour was in Dallas there had been an internal BATB merch sale, and I'd taken that opportunity to buy my sister's kids a bunch of souvenirs for when I see them again. I've since found out that they won't be coming to a show until October, and I don't want their gifts to get damaged riding around in my tour trunk for nearly a full year. I brought them all back to the hotel last night and packed them in the box from the mutes (it'll probably be a while before the return is authorized and I can find another box then.) Bundled up and walked to the nearest UPS store, sending it all to Florida, and from there I'll ship it directly to my sister on the April layoff.

On the walk back I remembered that the musician's union Zoom meeting was today. Shoot! I barely made it back to the hotel in time. Nothing important happened, but you never know so I like to attend every meeting that I can. The meeting went for an hour. Afterward I ate lunch, chatted with Jameson a bit, and checked on an unimportant amazon order that is running late. Practiced talking through my PowerPoint again, trying to hit my time stamps for each section, and wore out my voice doing that. Chilled with some anime.

Carpooled to the theater with Ryu. It is cloudy and quickly getting colder. The storm is coming, and so far the snowfall estimates have only been going UP.

The evening show was good; Be Our Guest got a partial standing-O, which we haven't had in a bit! There are some things that I consistently play "not to my liking," and tomorrow I hope to come in early to workshop those a bit, and to give the trombones a bath.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday: One evening show. The temp is supposed to drop drastically and the snow/sleet will begin, so I'm probably not going anywhere unless there's something I need to weather the storm. If any of our shows will be cancelled for Saturday, we will find out today.

Saturday: Big ol' snowstorm. The forecast calls for bitter cold and between 10-13" of snow as of now. It's supposed to be a 2-show day but we'll see what happens.

Sunday: Two-show day, and packing for Tulsa which should be a short bus ride on Monday.

brickhousewench

Ryan Hall Y’all is forecasting 14 - 19 inches of snow for Boston over Sunday through Monday.

He's still predicting a foot of snow for my hometown of Lexington, KY. That's pretty historic snow for them, we had 15 inches during the Blizzard of 1978 (for context, that's the entire winter's worth of snowfall in a single storm...). And really that storm was the only time I remember getting more than an inch when I lived in KY. Interestingly, when I googled it looks like climate change has been bringing more snow to Lexington than we got when I was a kid.

Ryan Hall Y’all is forecasting 16 inches of snow for Lowell over Sunday through Monday.

Weather Underground is forecasting 14 inches of snow for Lowell over Sunday through Monday.

ysabetwordsmith

Here are the character notes for "The Bones of Chihuly."

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Reading

Watch "Stay at Home"

Content notes for "The Bones of Chihuly"

Philosophical Questions: Rights

Recipe: "Apple Topping"

Since I've Been Home

Freaking Cold

New Year's Resolutions Check In

(no subject)

The rest of the story

Mid term report

Affordable Housing

Birdfeeding

Closet Ready

Snowflake Challenge 12: Appreciation

Books

Follow Friday 1-23-26: Libraries and Librarians

Location notes for "The Bones of Chihuly"

Oklahoma City, OK part 2: Haircut, Mute Fail, The Pending Storm

Updated forcast

Character notes for "The Bones of Chihuly"

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January 2026

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